Well dressed men and women know that a good outfit requires the right accessories to provide the finishing touches.  Not too much, but just enough to provide a little sizzle to the overall look.

A good interior designer knows that accessories complete the look of a space and add sizzle in the same manner as the perfect handbag; shoes, boots and jewelry complete the look of a suit or dress.  They are the details, the fringe, the pizzazz and personality that take a room from functional to eye popping, head turning, wow power home fashion.

When all your room’s basic elements; flooring, large furniture and upholstery pieces, window coverings, paint and wallpaper are established and in place you are ready to adorn your rooms with wit, whimsy, style and personality. Otherwise, known as accessorizing.

Start with the greenery: potted floor plants, tabletop plants, even a vase of fresh flowers brings a room to life. Plants add colour, scent, texture and personality to a room.  Try to keep the style of plant appropriate for the style or mood of the room.  For example, use cacti in a Santa Fa room, ferns in a traditional space, ornamental grass, palm and bonsai trees in a contemporary styled or modern space.

Next, shed some light with lamps and candles to add mood and ambience to a space.  Lighting is effectively combined with plants to cast shadows creating drama and texture on a wall when cast from underneath a plant.  Be sure to vary the height of lighting for visual balance and interest.  For example, a room should contain two table lamps, one floor lamp; one floor can shine up from below the floor plant and a variety of well placed throughout the room.

Like art under foot, area carpets add colour, style, texture, warmth and intimacy to a space.  Sheepskin, Persian, rag, shag, sisal and bamboo are all excellent choices. 

On a sofa or chair, throw cushions and blankets add texture, comfort, warmth, colour and style to a room.  They can also be changed seasonally, cottons and linen in spring and summer, cashmere, fur and wool for fall and winter.

Wall art and framed mirrors turn those oversized canvases we call walls into masterpieces.  A well-placed mirror can bring light and good reflections into an otherwise dark space while art can add creativity, personality, colour, texture and style.

On horizontal surfaces, tabletop accessories such as framed photos, boxes, seashells, books, vases, spheres, bowls (basically any item that reflects your personal lifestyle, interests, the theme of the room or is a favorite mementoes) add small personal touches to a room.

The accessories of the room should be spirited, full of life, passion, wit, humor and whimsy.  It is at this stage of the design process that we should be our most creative.  Enjoy a sense of play when you are choosing these details or finishing touches, after all it is the accessories that will individualize and take a space from good to great. 

Accessories do not need to be expensive.  In fact, some of the most creative accessory items I have used have been found, gathered and remade.  Wooden clogs, leather bound books stacked on a table, iron gates hung as wall art, a bowl of moss, pebbles or antique golf balls, mannequin’s, vintage medical instruments and sporting equipment all make wonderful and creative accessory items.

Don’t worry about the quality or the cost of the accessory pieces.  It is most important to ensure that your accessories work with the style of your room, support the rooms theme, give us a laugh or remind us of good times and wonderful people.  An accessory must also fit the space, literally.

The size, shape and visual weight of your accessories are as important, if not more important than the actual item itself.  Whenever you are arranging and placing accessory pieces think triangularly and in odd numbers.  Groupings of three, five and seven placed within an imaginary triangle work best.

When placing accessory items together start with the tallest accessory first, then an accessory about two-thirds the height of the first and then a lower piece.  For example, to accessorize a small end table place a table lamp slightly off center then stack two readers digest books to the left but in front of your lamp, place a small potted plant on top of your books, stand three books next to the stacked books.  If you still, have table space to fill use a small votive candle in front.

The most common mistake we make when hanging wall art or framed mirrors is that we hang these pieces to high.  The center of the mirror or picture should be at about 5’.  The eye of the viewer should be at the center of the piece.  It is better to hang a picture to low than too high.  If the picture will be viewed most often when seated, hang the art so that when sitting in the chair the center of the painting is at eye level.  Be creative with your arrangements and again, odd numbers usually work best.

Have fun, accessorizing.  Change accessories not only seasonally. Experiment with new placement and arrangements, be creative.  Collect items for use as accessories in all your travels. 

Think creatively, in odd numbers and triangularly.  Accessories will personalize your home and make your rooms simply sensational!

FENG SHUI

To feel grounded place a ticking clock, a water fountain or a metronome where it can be heard throughout the home. Since time spent in the womb we have been deeply soothed by a repetitive and regular beat.

CLUTTER THERAPY

Never dust with a dry cloth. I always dampen my clothes in order to pick up dust instead of simply moving it around.